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In fairness, crossbows are supposed to be the easiest of the missile weapons to learn. That was supposed to be their advantage over both slings and longbows both of which supposedly had to be learned and practiced from childhood on while anyone could become proficient at a crossbow in about a month. Then again, I thought clerics were supposed to use only blunt weapons and leave pointed and edged weapons alone? o_O

Mind you, it’s been a little while since I ran clerics so I guess that rule may have fallen by the wayside in one edition or another along the way. ^_~

@Towering Barbarian – You’re right, it is supposed to be the easiest missile weapon to learn. The whole “Clerics must only use blunt weapons” rule was done away with gradually, starting in 2E (I think), with clerics being able to wield their normal array of weapons, plus the favored weapon of their deity. For example, if you worship Corellon, his favored weapon is the longsword. Ergo, you can wield the longsword. Now, in 5E, clerics start out with proficiency in simple weapons (which includes daggers, sickles and spears) and you can take a feat that grants you access to martial weapons.